Strive: Relationships, Motivation and Inspiration

By Joe Johnson

Strive Vol. 1 is a book displaying hope, love, courage, and strength. It discusses
these various topics intending to encourage others to persevere, have faith, and reach
freedom. Strive will motivate you to recreate foundations in your life.
Strive will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart. Believe, Receive, and Strive on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796068948

Joe Johnson

Joe brings a fresh and at times humorous look at the growth of Christian faith. Serious issues are met with a breath of levity and joy that help the reader engage in a conversation throughout the text. His style and voice leap from the page and bring life to a book about faith, struggles and doubt. The reader is left wanting more.

Book preview

Starting Over

STRIVE

Intro

OMG! These kids. I swear I’ll go and leave them in a ditch.

Miranda, don’t lose it on me.

I’m trying not to Tosha, but girl look. I cook, clean, cook, and clean. What about me. What about Miranda. What about my needs?!

MiMi I tell you all the time I can help you babysit.

Tosha, babysitting an hour every other Thursday doesn’t help. Quit playing. You have a life."

So do you MiMi. My best friend that has everything any other woman would want.

Yes. Cooking, cleaning, and wiping snotty noses.

I know it may seem hard at times MiMi. Especially when Dontae is in and out of town every few weeks.’

Yeah, every few weeks. It was supposed to be me, him, a little white dog and pink flowers in the yard. Instead, I got….

Stop it! Instead, you have a beautiful family. It may not be everything you want, but you have everything you need.

You are right Tosha. I don’t always look at it like that. I try, but I don’t.

Well, going into this New Year, let’s think more positive. Your kids love you. Dontae adores you, and I’m always here for you. You are my best friend. I love you girl.

I love you too Tosha.

Chapter 1 Tosha

Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year! Then, it all came crumbling down. He slept with my best friend. Not just any friend, but my best friend of twenty years. Damn, I’m foolish.

It’s funny because the one I tell my secrets to, laugh with, vent to, and make memories with stabbed me in my back.

It all makes sense now. Every time my husband, Dontae, came home, he asked, How is Tosha doing? Where is Tosha? Tell Tosha to come chill with us. He would always mention how blessed I was to have her as a friend.

Ha! I guess I am blessed to have him as a husband. NOT!

The only thing that’s a blessing out of this marriage is my rugrats — all four of them. At the moment, I feel so lost, hurt, ashamed, and numb. I need direction, but from who and where?

Chapter 2 My Current Situation

A few months have gone by, and I still haven’t talked to or seen Tosha. Not that I want to, but she hasn’t tried reaching out to me.

I’m sure she is laid up with my soon to be ex-husband. At this very moment, I still feel scared, alone, confused, and ashamed.

Out of all things, why did this happen to me? This thing that I can’t shake. The lies, the cheating, and this hurt I may not ever get over.

I will rather be blind in one eye than to feel the way I do.

I try my best not to beat myself up about the situation. Dontae was and will remain a D.O.B

D- Dirty

O-Ol’

B- Bedswerver

Aside from sleeping with my